Men's Health: The Best Exercises

ByABC News
July 20, 2000, 3:20 PM

— -- Exercise trends last about as long as a head of lettuce and offer about as much benefit. But there are some exercises that have been around since the birth of Larry King. And thats because they work.

We polled exercise researchers, strength coaches, physical therapists, top trainers, an entire C.S.C.S. convention, and a few thick-necked guys and made them vote on the most effective exercises you can do in a dozen different categories, plus the single best one of all time.

Best No-Weight Exercise

The Pushup

Whats great about pushups is that you can do them even though you may be weaker than the Russian ruble. You can start with a few, and over time increase repetitions at a good, even pace that builds muscle in the places that count (chest, shoulders, triceps).

The pushup that impresses: Only the strongest and bravest should attempt a one-arm pushup. Yes, were talking about you.

The Best Exercise No One Does

The Clean and Jerk

The clean and jerk used to be a staple move in hard-core gyms.

But its making a big comeback in collegiate training rooms.

Go ahead and jerk: Juan Carlos Santana, C.S.C.S., recommends the version below, using dumbbells instead of a barbell.

Start with light weights, and focus on building speed more than building strength. Add weight only when your form is fluid and the move feels natural.

Best Exercise for the Beach

The Arm-Blaster Curl

The arm blaster a thin strip of metal that hangs from your shoulders and prevents your elbows from moving forward and back during a curl forces your biceps to work much harder than they would if allowed to swing a little. Consequently, this curl is the best single exercise for working all parts of the biceps with maximum intensity, according to an MRI analysis conducted by Per Tesch, Ph.D., author of Target Bodybuilding.

And the biceps are the best muscles to display on the beach, according to our experts, especially if a rumble breaks out over blanket space. The stronger your biceps, the faster you can punch, says Tom Seabourne, Ph.D., a sports psychologist, martial artist, and author of Complete Cardio Kickboxing.